Battle of The Crater Letter.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/21/2019

A great war-date Union soldier's, 4pp. 8vo., account of the battle of the Crater, Va., July 30, 1864, by Pvt. Charles H. Lancaster, Co. C, 11th New Hampshire Vols. [WIA Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862], "Near Petersburg, Va., July 31, 1864", to his parents, in part: "…I was in hopes that I should have been able to have written you some good news and that we was in Petersburg. But instead I have to write of a repulse. Early yesterday morning a rebel fort was blowed up and a charge was made by our brigade on their pits…which we carried…1 remained to be taken. The negroes were then put in front and their officers had no orders…I heard by the way of Capt. Gillman (once a private in my Co…now commands a company of negroes) [David M. Gillman WIA Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; captain Co. K, 39th USCT] that the brigade commander had no orders but to follow his brigade…they laid an hour exposed to the reb's shells and then advanced without having any orders to and were forced to retire…back they came pell-mell. Gillman says that they went up as well as they should want any troops to go…he blames them for…not stopping when they were ordered to. When they got back…they came over the pits head's first and wounded, a lot…with their bayonets. The rebs and the negroes together were more than our boys could stand and a panic commenced which resulted in our loosing all the ground that we had gained and a large amount in killed, wounded and prisoners. My regt. has lost 63 men which leaves us but about 70 men that carry guns. We lost our colors twice and managed to get [them] back with…part of the pole that has the stars attached to it. Some of the Maine Regts. have had all of their men taken prisoner s. There is but a thousand in the brigade now having looser 1/2 since yesterday morning. My Co. was very lucky. It did not lose but two men and them wounded. Will Aiken of the 9th [New Hampshire, WIA Antietam] ] is supposed to have been taken prisoner…[Aug. 1st]…all is quiet on the lines now, there being a flag of truce to allow…the burying of the dead and removal of the wounded. The ground is fairly covered with them. There was 2 regiments of the rebels in the fort when it was blowed up and most of them were buried alive. The fort mounted 18 guns. The boys say the fight was harder than Fredericksburg. It has been very hot and sultry for the last few days…it will not take but one more fight to use our brigade up…Capt. [Sewall] Tilton who was commanding my regiment was wounded in the right arm. Our adjutant who was wounded in the first of the campaign came back to the regiment yesterday. Gen. [Charles] Griffin cried like a child when he heard that our brigade was captured…Charles H. Lancaster." Complete with transcript. Near fine.

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